Does anyone know where I can get accurate information on high school sports funding? I’m looking for to the degree—if any—that high schools have had to provide for themselves instead of depending on state or local funding. Thanks.
That’s a largely local issue. Start with your principal. In general, state aid to schools is general in nature, not encumbered. Disclaimer: I’m speaking Illiinois here, YMMV.
Individual school/district budgets are done locally by the Board. They pass a district budget which has input from principals and department heads making requests.
But start with your principal if you want to know the mechanism by which your athletic budget, and the amount of $upport they get from the schools is. If you aren’t satisfied you hear the truth there, climb the ladder: superintendent, find a friendly board member…
I just read my reply and it sucks.
You want to know (I think) if, and to what degree the state, or local revenue sources target athletics specifically.
Probably not at all. Depending on where the district places their priorities the local authorities use that state aid at their discretion.
Now, back to your ladder…
Yeah, the answer for this (IMHO) depends on too many variables.
A wildly popular athletic program can almost pay for itself with candy sales and other fundraisers, booster clubs, advertising in game programs and stadiums, ticket sales, student fees for uniforms, etc. My alma mater’s football program - back in the day - was so flush with cash that they built a new stadium on their own dime and funded most of the school’s other sports.
Also, my high school relied on a lot of “community giving” for most of the “non-football” sports. For example, the swim team had free access to a community pool for practice and meets, the golf and tennis teams had gratis access to a local country club for practice and the baseball team used the baseball fields at the city’s park. IIRC, the baseball team paid for their own uniforms individually and also had candy sales, so I can’t imagine that they’d need a lot of money, except for transportation and baseballs. Same with the tennis and golf teams.
I assume the OP is referring to public schools. Obviously with private schools, they can fund athletic programs out of just about any source of money.
The public schools in California are funded a bit out of their own funds. Most school districts require the coaches to be teachers, so their salaries come from the regular school funding.
Generally, if the school is in an affluent neighborhood, the teams will find sponsors who will buy nice uniforms, form booster clubs, and such. Schools in poorer areas sort of have to make do.
Another issue depends upon how much the parents of the kids participating care. If you get a critical mass of parental involvement, economics won’t matter.
Actually, I was looking more for national trends. I’ve heard that school sports programs are being cut from some schools, but the numbers I’ve been able to find don’t bear that out.
Maybe a related question that would be helpful is: are high schools hurting for money? If so, in what ways? What are the ramifications? And how are people trying to fix the problem?
[QUOTE=magellan01]
Actually, I was looking more for national trends. I’ve heard that school sports programs are being cut from some schools, but the numbers I’ve been able to find don’t bear that out.
QUOTE]
I’m not so sure it’s would always be reflected in the numbers.
e.g. Cut the wrestling team, as it has very few members/interest, and use the money towards the football (or basketball, hockey, baseball, etc) team’s expenses.
The net dollars coming in funding may be staying the same, but be reallocated to different programs.